December 31, 2015
Word of the Day
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Definition:
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(noun) Acting like a clown or buffoon. |
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clowning, harlequinade, prank, frivolity
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| Usage: |
Mrs. Williams had little patience for the class clown's buffoonery, and she would often send him to the principal's office. |
Article of the Day
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Man o' War, a large, reddish-colored colt, was owned and bred by August Belmont, Jr. The colt raced for only 2 years, but in that short time, he won 20 out of his 21 races and set five world records. One of the most renowned stallions in the history of American thoroughbred racing, Man o' War went on to become a leading sire, producing more than 64 stakes winners and 200 champions. What was Man O' War's relationship to Seabiscuit?
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This Day in History
Central African Federation Collapses (1963)
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Discuss
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The Central African Federation was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to 1963. Created by the British government to unite the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia with the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the federation ultimately crumbled when black African nationalists demanded a greater share of power than the dominant minority white population was willing to concede. What are Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland called today?
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Today's Birthday
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Isma'il Pasha was appointed viceroy of Egypt under the Ottoman Empire and was involved with work on the Suez Canal. He planned but failed to unify the Nile valley by creating a new southern Egyptian province in the Sudan. Educated in Paris and sent on diplomatic missions throughout Europe, he helped to modernize Egypt before being dismissed by the sultan because of fiscal mismanagement. The enormous debt he incurred led to the British occupation of Egypt in 1882. Who captured his son Hassan?
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Today's Holiday
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In Scotland and the northern part of England, the last day of the year is known as Hogmanay. Scottish children used to call at the homes of the wealthy on this day and ask for their traditional gift of an oatmeal cake. They would call out, "Hogmanay!" and recite traditional rhymes or sing songs in return for which they'd be given their cakes to take home. Today, Hogmanay is celebrated much as is New Year's Eve around the rest of the Western world, with street and house parties. Such fire ceremonies as torchlight processions and lighting New Year's fires are popular traditions as well.
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Quote of the Day
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Only as we live, think, feel, and work outside the home, do we become humanly developed, civilized, socialized.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935)
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In the News
Gum Disease Linked to Breast Cancer Risk in Older Women
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Discuss
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Middle-aged and older women with gum disease are slightly more likely than those without gum problems to develop breast cancer, suggests a new study. The risk increase was most pronounced for women with gum disease who smoked cigarettes or had quit within ...
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